In May 2016 the murder of Iana Kasian, a 30-year-old Ukrainian immigrant unfolded in West Hollywood California.
Just weeks after giving birth to her daughter Diana. Iana was brutally murdered in her apartment.
Engaged to Blake Leibel, a graphic novelist and filmmaker from Canada, Iana’s life had taken a hopeful turn when she moved to Los Angeles to pursue her dreams. However her aspirations were ended horrifically.
Iana’s mother, Olga Kasian became increasingly alarmed when she could not reach her daughter after several attempts.
“I had this feeling that something was wrong,” Olga Kasian tells “48 Hours” correspondent Maureen Maher, per CBS News.
On May 24, 2016 concerned for Iana’s safety, Olga went to their apartment but received no response from Leibel. Alarmed by the situation, she contacted the police on May 25.
Initial attempts to enter the apartment were unsuccessful as Leibel refused to open the door. It wasn’t until May 26 that authorities forcibly entered the apartment.
“The suspect had barricaded the door of the apartment with furniture, but deputies forced their way inside, searched and found Kasian dead in a bedroom. She had apparently suffered blunt force trauma to the head”, according to sheriff’s Lt. Dave Coleman, per ABC 13.
Upon gaining access, police discovered Iana’s lifeless body in the bedroom. The scene was horrific; she had been brutally mutilated and drained of blood, ABC 7 reported.
“In my almost 30 years, I’ve never been involved in a more heinous crime than this.” — Sgt. William Cotter of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
An autopsy later confirmed that Iana died from exsanguination and head trauma. Investigators noted signs of extreme violence, her scalp had been removed and there were significant injuries to her face and neck.
Evidence suggested that she had endured torture for several hours before her death.
“[Kasian’s] entire scalp was traumatically absent and was not found, was not present with the body. Her skull had been stripped down to the surface of the bone … there was no scalp present except for little bits in the back of the neck,” Dr. James Ribe said.
“Also portions of the right side of her face were torn away including the right ear and part of the posterior face on the right side, all the way down the jawline”, per The Toronto Sun.
Following the discovery of Iana’s body, Blake Leibel was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, torture, and aggravated mayhem.
Prosecutors argued that his actions stemmed from jealousy and a desire for control over Iana, During the trial, it was revealed that Leibel had authored a graphic novel titled Syndrome, which contained themes of violence eerily mirroring the circumstances of Iana’s murder.
Prosecutor Tannaz Mokayef: “Leibel used a knife in a ‘prolonged attack’ in which the victim was ‘alive for the better part of the mutilation and mayhem'”. She added that the crime “followed a script” from the graphic novel, according to CBC.
The prosecution presented a timeline leading up to Iana’s death, emphasizing Olga Kasian’s persistent attempts to contact her daughter went unanswered for days before police intervention occurred.
Gruesome photographs and testimonies detailing the extent of Iana’s injuries were presented during the trial.
Prosecutor Beth Silverman: “He continued to mutilate her bit by bit” and also “He threw away pieces of his fiancee … like she was trash”
On June 20, 2018 Blake Leibel was convicted of first-degree murder, torture, and aggravated mayhem after jurors deliberated for less than four hours.
During sentencing on June 26 he received a life sentence without the possibility of parole, per Nzherald. The judge described Leibel’s actions as “inconceivable cruelty”, reflecting on the horrific nature of his crime.
“There are no words to express the pain and despair in my heart. I never thought that one day my life would be broken.” Olga Kasian addressing the court during sentencing.